Hello everyone,

Here is the newsletter for week one of term one - our first newsletter for the year.

I would like to welcome all new and returning families to Taradale PS.

As this is the first newsletter, there is quite a bit to include, please take some time to look through this newsletter. If you have any questions, please feel free to come and see me.

Breakfast Club

Taradale PS is a member of the Food Bank Breakfast Club programme. This means we are able to offer breakfast to all students every day at no cost to families or the school.

The school orders all the food for the club and it is staffed by parent volunteers who supervise children at breakfast. We would like to offer the service every school day, but that is dependant on having people volunteer. If you would like to know more or to volunteer, please let me know. The more volunteers, the more days we can operate the Breakfast Club

School Council 2025

notice of election and call for nominations

Nominations are invited to fill the following vacancies on the Taradale PS School Council:

three (3) vacancies in the parent category
one (1) vacancy in the school employee category

Nomination forms are available from me and must be lodged by 4.00pm Friday 14 February

If more nominations than vacancies are received a ballot will be called closing at 4.00pm Friday 21 February

Membership is for two years anSchool Council meets 8 times per / twice per term on a Wednesday at 5.30.

In 2025 the meeting dates are 26/02, 26/03, 21/05, 18/06, 20/08, 17/09, 05/11, 04/12

If you would like to know more about School Council, please come and see me and/or refer to the below attached information

Parents and Friends Club

The group will hold its first meeting/info session next Friday the 7th of Feb from 9.00am in rm 2. See the P&F page for more information. Everyone is welcome to attend

Garden Club 2025

Meet the teacher meetings

Next Wednesday 05 Feb we will be holding Parent / teacher meetings as an opportunity to chat to your child's teacher and for each of you to share information. You can register for a session via the newsfeed message Jane sent on Thursday morning

P/1 Marcus

2/3 Emma

4/5 Lea and Sarah

5/6 Scott

School uniforms and hats

We had expected a delivery of new hats and polo shirts for the start of the school year, but this has been delayed due to a production production, we have been told they will be delivered next week. Apologies to those who are waiting for hats and shirts.

School Sports Victoria

Sport message from Sam:

Hi everyone

If you would like to chat with us about nominating your child for try-outs for a particular Sport/Event please contact us. Information regarding all Sports can be found on the SSV website.

Castlemaine District Sports Carnival 28th March

We'll be looking to enter students in skill rotations and teams from Grade 3/6 in the Sports of Basketball, Netball, AFL and Soccer. Stay tuned for more information

OSHC

Taradale PS currently operates an OSHC every afternoon after school through OSHClub.

A couple of people have enquired about before school care. For a morning service to be viable it would require a a minimum number of regular attendees. If you are interested in a before school service, please let me know and I can approach OSHClub to see what they can offer.

Grounds works

Over the holidays the school's septic system was replaced with a model that will cope with the school enrolment and potential future growth. Part of the oval is currently fenced off whilst the workers finalise the tree planting for the drainage from the system. The front picket fence has also been replaced. We have have re-used as much of the timber as possible - mainly the hand cut hardwood pickets. Some small trees that were determined to be a fire risk have also been removed. These will be replaced with more suitable plants.

It is great to see ongoing improvements to the school.

upcoming dates

no preps at school on Wednesday during February
Monday 10 March Labour Day Public Holiday
Friday 04 April end of term one 2.00pm

Chris

Christopher Burgess

Principal

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden